The Ilmino blog

Study smarter, one insight at a time.

Exam-board guides, revision techniques and product updates from the team building Ilmino.

Active Recall: The Revision Technique That Actually Works

Re-reading your notes feels productive, but it's one of the weakest ways to revise. Here's the science-backed technique that beats it every time.

Dr Abhishek Kumar · 28 June 2026Read article

Product Updates

Build Your Own Exam Paper from 88,000+ Questions, Free

Pick questions from our bank, watch a real A4 exam paper assemble itself as you go, and download the paper and mark scheme as PDFs. No account, no charge.

18 July 2026·2 min read

Product Updates

Show Your Working: A Proper Writing Canvas, On Screen

Ruled answer lines, a pen that feels right, a built-in calculator, and a camera button for paper loyalists. Working out finally has a home on screen.

16 July 2026·2 min read

Product Updates

Quests and Achievements: Small Wins, Every Single Day

Daily, weekly and monthly quests with chests to crack open, plus one-off achievements for the milestones that deserve a trophy cabinet.

14 July 2026·2 min read

Product Updates

Test Mode: Real Exam Pressure, Zero Real Consequences

Test Mode brings timed exams, hearts and real exam-hall pressure to your revision, so exam day feels like just another Tuesday.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Parent Quests: Grades In, Headphones Out

Set quests for your child with real-world rewards: grade targets, streaks and practice goals, tracked automatically inside Ilmino. Motivation, gamified.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

The Parent Dashboard: Insight, Not Surveillance

The Parent Dashboard shows your child's mastery, streaks and grades at a glance, with a child filter for bigger families. Finally, real answers to \"how's revision going?\"

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Meet Lumi: The Study Buddy Who Actually Did the Reading

Lumi is Ilmino's built-in AI study helper. Stuck on a question? Get an explanation pitched at your level, without spoiling the answer.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Leagues & Leaderboards: Bronze Today, Champion by Mocks

Climb from Bronze to Champion league on weekly XP, race your classmates up the leaderboard, and turn revision into the only competition where every grade goes up.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Introducing Leaderboards and Weekly Leagues on Ilmino

Practice now earns XP, and every week you are ranked against other students in your league. Climb from Bronze to Master, claim reward chests, and turn revision into a habit worth keeping.

10 July 2026·3 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Tassomai: Flexible AI Practice or Daily Retrieval Quizzes?

Tassomai builds retention through short daily adaptive quizzes. Ilmino is a working AI learning platform with mark-scheme marking, working-step analysis, full exam modes and a customisable dashboard. Here is how the two compare.

10 July 2026·16 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Sparx Maths: Flexible AI Learning or Structured Homework?

Sparx Maths sets personalised weekly maths homework for whole schools. Ilmino is a working, multi-subject AI learning and exam-practice platform available directly to families at £19.99 per month. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·15 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Seneca Learning: AI Practice or Structured Revision?

Seneca Learning offers a large free library of structured revision courses. Ilmino turns revision into active, marked practice: it marks your typed or handwritten working against mark schemes and recommends what to practise next. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·14 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Save My Exams: Adaptive Marked Practice or Revision Library?

Save My Exams offers a large library of exam-board revision resources and Smart Mark AI marking. Ilmino runs an adaptive, marked-practice loop that analyses your working. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·16 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Quizlet: Exam-Focused Platform or Flashcards?

Quizlet is a general-purpose global study toolkit built around flashcards and AI study aids. Ilmino is a UK exam-focused learning, practice and assessment platform with mark-scheme marking of typed and handwritten working. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·15 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Medly AI: Which AI Learning Platform for GCSE and A-Level?

A fair, factual comparison of Ilmino and Medly AI for GCSE and A-Level: AI practice, mark-scheme marking, working analysis, simulations, dashboards and price.

10 July 2026·17 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs GCSEPod: Interactive AI Practice or Video Revision?

GCSEPod delivers short, curriculum-mapped video and audio Pods for quick revision. Ilmino is an interactive AI practice, assessment and feedback platform that marks your typed or handwritten working against mark schemes. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·17 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Eedi: Complete Exam Prep or Maths Diagnosis?

Eedi is an evidence-led maths diagnostic platform built around misconceptions. Ilmino is a broad, multi-subject AI platform covering the full exam-preparation loop. Here is how they differ and who each one suits.

10 July 2026·15 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs Cognito: AI Practice or Video Lessons?

Cognito teaches maths and science through short, clear videos and follow-up questions. Ilmino marks your typed or handwritten working against mark schemes and recommends what to practise next. Here is how they compare for GCSE and A-Level.

10 July 2026·16 min read

Platform Comparisons

Ilmino vs CENTURY Tech: AI Practice and Assessment for Schools

CENTURY Tech is an established, cross-sector adaptive learning platform. Ilmino is a current AI practice and assessment environment for students and schools. Here is how they compare.

10 July 2026·15 min read

$\"Two Marks From a Grade 5\" Hits Different Than \"62%\"$ Product Updates

\"Two Marks From a Grade 5\" Hits Different Than \"62%\"

Every Ilmino test now shows your 9 to 1 grade and exactly how many marks you are from the next boundary. Turn every score into a revision plan.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Discuss & the Power-Up Shop: Community and Loot

Ask and answer subject questions in Discuss, Ilmino's student community, then spend your gems on XP boosters, streak freezes and heart refills in the Power-Up Shop.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Product Updates

Competitive Tests: For When the Syllabus Feels Too Easy

Finished the syllabus? Competitive tests serve Olympiad-level questions for students who want a real challenge beyond GCSE and A-Level.

10 July 2026·1 min read

Exam Boards

AQA vs Edexcel GCSE Maths: Which Is Harder?

The two biggest GCSE Maths exam boards look similar on paper, but the differences in structure and style matter for how you should revise.

15 June 2026·2 min read

Product Updates

Introducing Instant AI Marking for Handwritten Working

Photograph your handwritten solution and get it marked in seconds, method marks and all. Here's how our new marking engine works.

30 May 2026·1 min read

Study Tips

5 Algebra Mistakes That Cost Students Easy Marks

These five slips show up in exam after exam. Spot them in your own working and you'll pick up marks you're currently throwing away.

12 May 2026·1 min read

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